Music Theory & Musicianship Courses & Classes in London & Online
We teach a full range of Music Theory classes for Western staff notation, and Musicianship classes to enhance your practical music skills from composition to sight-singing.
Each course is a live, interactive class with presentations, discussions and study exercises lead by your teacher. Many courses run online (via Zoom) and will have an accompanying online ‘Google classroom’ with handouts and sound files to enhance your learning between sessions. To read more visit our blog: Musicianship & Music Theory courses at City Lit
Our staff are all professional musicians - performers, composers and music historians - many with a postgraduate music qualification. Please see individual course outlines for tutor biographies.
Many of our music theory students have used our courses as preparation for ABRSM music theory exams (external to city lit) and achieved excellent results. Students also learn out of curiosity and exams are not compulsory! The vast majority of our students are learning to support their instrumental or singing studies as they have decided they would like to read staff music notation with more confidence.
We have classes for complete beginners as well as advanced students so please email us at music@citylit.ac.uk if you would like help choosing the correct level course for your current need
28 courses available
Music theory: grade 5Learn about irregular metre, tenor clef, major and minor keys to six flats/sharps, primary triads, cadences, and standard expression signs. Essential for anyone taking higher grade practical exams. (Break Week: 26/29th Oct 2026 or 2nd June 2027 as appropriate)
Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £209.00- Musicianship 1: listening and reading, pitch and rhythmLearn to name and recognise what you hear, to organise music notation, write it and read it. These practical and academic sessions are suitable for absolute beginners, which may include students who play by ear and do not read yet.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £160.00
- Pentatonics and beyond: improvising in popular music
Study how to improvise in popular music. Produce musical solos using aural skills, an increased understanding of scale types, and an appreciation of stylistic elements that go to make a ‘sound’.
Keeley Street
Tue 15 Sep 2026David HarrisonFull fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00 - Music theory: grade 1
Learn the basic principles of musical language and notation: rhythmic values, time signatures, pitch on treble and bass clefs, simple major scales, intervals and key signatures, and the most common musical terms and signs. NB: Our February courses have scheduled breaks on: 15, 18 February 2027
Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £139.00 - Music theory: grade 3
Develop your understanding of musical language by learning to read and write rhythm and melody in compound time, phrase structure and anacrusis (upbeat/pickup), transposing between clefs, major and minor keys up to four sharps/flats. (break week: 28 Oct 2026)
Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £223.00 Concession £195.00 - Music theory at the keyboard: level 1
A practical, hands‑on 11‑week course designed for piano students who have completed Level 1B or equivalent. You will explore core music‑theory concepts at the keyboard, developing confidence in chords, harmony, cadences, and simple analysis, whilst strengthening your playing skills. This course is suitable for students working towards ABRSM Grade 1 Theory.
Keeley Street
Thu 17 Sep 2026Adam Parry-DaviesFull fee £279.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £195.00 - Songwriting: form and function
Develop your ability to compose songs through practical exercises. Examine well known songs from pop, rock and jazz in order to understand their chord progressions, accompaniment, bass lines and rhythm. Ideal for players and singers with a good working knowledge of harmony.Develop your ability to compose songs through practical exercises. Examine well known songs from pop, rock and jazz in order to understand their chord progressions, accompaniment, bass lines and rhythm. Ideal for players and singers with a good working knowledge of harmony.
Online
Sat 19 Sep 2026David HarrisonFull fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00 - Keyboard harmony 5A
A practical workshop for classical pianists who are new to studying harmony but have piano skills of grade 5 or higher. Broaden your understanding of piano repertoire by studying the underpinning harmonic constructs. It is recommended to complete all 3 modules (A, B and C) in preparation for the Keyboard harmony & Piano Performance Workshop. Break Week: 26th Oct 2026
Keeley Street
Mon 21 Sep 2026Ricardo GosalboFull fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £209.00 - Composition techniques
Learn techniques for composing your own music for instruments and/or voices. Suitable for students with knowledge of music theory grade/level 6 standard. Break Weeks: 27th Oct 2065, and 01 Jun 2027
Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £223.00 Concession £195.00 - Music theory: counterpoint 1
Explore the art of counterpoint, a musical technique in which two or more melodies are combined to create a highly engaging musical texture. Over the year you will learn contrapuntal technique from Renaissance to Twentieth Century styles, through score analysis and practical exercises. The course is split into three terms, focusing on Renaissance style in term 1. Break Week: 27th Oct 2026
Online
Tue 22 Sep 2026Selena KayFull fee £279.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £195.00 - Musicianship 2: rhythm
Improve your rhythmic perception, execution, writing, reading and theoretical knowledge on this practical course. On this short course you'll play your instrument, or you will use your hands and your voice.
Online
Wed 23 Sep 2026Matt FisherFull fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £125.00 - Aural training (solfa) 1A
These practical sessions will focus on sight-singing and aural perception to develop your general musicianship. Gain a deeper understanding of different tonalities, develop your ability to pick out notes in chords, write down melodies that you hear, and improve your rhythmic accuracy. Based on the famous Kodály method. Leads to part B next term. Break Week: 29 Oct 2026
Keeley Street
Thu 24 Sep 2026Selena KayFull fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £160.00 - Aural training (solfa) 3A
A continuation from year 2 or 3, this workshop consolidates students’ aural awareness, sight singing and transcription skills through continued study of new repertoire. The course is suitable for those who have already studied Aural training with Solfa Level 3 or who have grade 6+ theory skills as well some familiarity with tonic solfa (‘moveable doh’).
Break weeks: Break week: 29 Oct 2026 and 03 June 2027Keeley Street
Thu 24 Sep 2026Selena KayFull fee £279.00 Senior fee £223.00 Concession £195.00 - Musicianship for singers 1
Develop your understanding of theory and musicianship in relation to the singing. This course is for any singer who has basic knowledge of music theory and would like to improve the application of theory to their singing.
Break weeks
Term 1 26th – 30th Oct 2026
Term 2 no scheduled break week
Term 3 Bank holidays Mondays & 1-4 Jun 2027Keeley Street
Fri 9 Oct 2026Ruth BeckmannFull fee £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £125.00 - Music theory: grade 2
Develop your knowledge of musical language by learning to read and write rhythm and melody in simple and compound time. Explore the concept of ledger lines, minor scales, intervals, and common key signatures, terms and signs. Scheduled break weeks on bank holiday Mondays or Thursday 3rd June (as appropriate)
Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £139.00
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